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SCARLET IBIS
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eudocimus ruber
HABITAT: Subtropical/Tropical forests, mangrove vegetation, wetlands, bogs, marshes, peatlands, and permanent freshwater lakes of South American from Venezuela to Brazil..
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
FUN FACT: Ibises are wading birds that use their curved beaks to probe shallow waters when foraging. The red coloring of the scarlet ibis comes from the carotene found in the crustaceans that it consumes.
DIET: Varied diet including crustaceans, fish, mollusks, frogs, worms and insects.
DESCRIPTION: Plumage is bright scarlet red, sometimes orange or a less deep pink depending on populations, season, and food. Only the tips of the wings are black. The naked skin areas, as well as the face and long, curved beak, are a pinkish to red hue. Males are slightly large than females with a longer beak. Total length from tip of beak to tail is 55-63 centimeters. Male wingspan measures up to 28 cm, with female’s wingspan reaching 26 cm.
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